Water Soluable

For this week I decided to post an oldie, but a goodie. This picture, taken in 2009, was featured on the cover of the Ampersand, Fordham's student-run creative writing and photography journal.

When the journal was published, a bunch of my friends asked what the image on the cover was. So I'll give you guys a chance to guess as well. I hope the title helps a little bit.

As for the effects, when a photo is more abstract than real life, I tend to go hog-wild on editing. I feel that since its not a straightforward image, I can basically distort it any way I want to create more of a mood or atmosphere, instead of a purposefully creating a single tone intended for the viewer.

Happy viewing!

Dia de Amistad

Yesterday was Valentine's day or, in El Salvador, Dia de Amistad. In Spanish, Dia de Amistad literally translates as "Friendship Day." Last year when I was in El Salvador we celebrated by writing nice things about our housemates and about people in our community. It was definitely a different way of celebrating than the way the U.S. does, and frankly, probably a healthier way as well.

While the flower in this picture isn't real, the effect on it is. One of my favorite, and probably weirdest, things I like to do while taking pictures is huffing out hot air on the lens so the shots come out super blurry and almost dream-like. If you can believe it there are no effects, other than that, on this picture. Huzzah!

Yesterday was so warm, and Friday is suppose to be even warmer. I WANT SPRING.

With Teeth

The Bronx has some tough teeth.

While I was walking to the four train I saw this building with smoke billowing out the top. I immediately started snapping because I was mostly curious about why there was so much smoke.

I usually don't use effects on my photos, but for some reason I really enjoy the vignette around the edges. I feel like its a "first-person-eye" opening slowly.

I also tinted this photo quite a bit to make the smoke a little darker. While I was walking, the weather was just so crummy and the entire street felt green. I can't really explain this, but sometimes in the city when its crummy out, the sky casts a strange glow over the people and everything has a green tint to it. Almost like its the year 3010 and the earth is slowly dying and changing color as the sun fades out. I know its not 3010, but in any case sometimes I feel like the Bronx is post-apocalyptic

Right On

I took this picture on my way to the 4 train yesterday. Its the logo for a store called Right On...although I don't really get it. The color of it was amazing and there were so many people walking in front of it to go into the shop, I just couldn't resist.

I like the artwork and also the fact that its ginormous and obnoxious and would never fly anywhere else but in the Bronx. Right On Bronx!

One of the reasons why I love the Bronx so much is that its real. Not too many tourists, not too many chain conglomerates like Starbucks, Europa, H&M. All of our deli's are authentic and privately owned, I get my coffee from an Albanian dude, my beer from a mobster, and my black beans from Tony Castillo, my favorite Dominican in the Bronx.

The Bronx is gritty but also amazing.

As for the edits, I only enhanced the color a smidge because its a real-life still and in real-life things ain't sepia.